Advice for a nervous newbie

[wolfbane]

hi everybody, i'm new to the forum and new to biking. was hoping i could get some advice from you all, and a bit of a confidence boost.

i passed my cbt a couple of months ago on a 125cc geared motorbike, with no previous bike or road experience. however, my biggest problem on the day was road confidence, and although i didn't do anything stupid, i felt panicky near other motorists.

since my cbt i've put a lot of thought into what i wanted to buy, although i really wanted a motorbike, i felt very nervous about going out on the roads by myself and having to deal with traffic ect and plus have the gears and clutch to worry about. in the end i taked myself out of a bike (for now) and opted to just get a little moped for a few months to build my road confidence up. i'm only tiny, so a 50cc moped can still be pretty nippy with me on board.

anyway, so last week a bought myself a moped, and considering my nerves decided to stick to taking it out late in the evening and early mornings to avoid heavy traffic. unfortunately, it seems that i'm still ridiculously nervous around other drivers, and without the backup of an instructor, the first time i went out i couldn't help but potter around at too slow a speed (which natural wound up some people). the second time out i'd managed to pick up my speed a little but made a huge error on a turn when i had a driver behind me, the combination of the error and wet weather resulted in me actually having a fall, and although i only had a bruise or two, it's really knocked my confidence because on my cbt i had no issues with balance or bike control, and that was on a more complex geared bike.

it just seems i'm going to pieces now i'm out there by myself, and i'm unsure whether i'm ever going to get the confidence now to get out amongst real traffic. if i don't sort this out soon i might end up backing out completely, although getting a bike is something i've wanted to do for years.

any advice would be much appreciated

[snikks]

Possibly you should consider doing some further training with a riding school in order to boost your confidence - this could work wonders, just a couple of extra hours on the road with a decent instructor.

An alternative would be to get out there to build road confidence on a push-bike for a while. It may sound crazy but it'll give you experience of traffic and road use with other drivers fully expecting you to be slow and in the way.

I had confidence issues when I first got out on the road, I felt like I was holding everyone up, which made me feel pressurised to rush things, and then I messed things up on a regular basis. It is a habit you can break .
____________________
- CBT: 02/01/11 Theory: 26/04/11 Mod 1: 19/05/11 Mod 2: 19/08/11
- 2007 Honda XL125V Varadero (Sold), 1999 Yamaha FZS600 Fazer (Sold), 2001 CBR600F

[RePT]

ooh..you think your nervous? check this out..

Did my CBT. bought a bike a month later. got my insurance policy the next day. and within 6 days, knocked off my bike, CAT C write off! I had an accident with a car driver ( who couldnt be assed to check his mirrors)

Im glad im still alive

but yeh, dont let nerves put you down!!... i weigh about 55kg..I feel like im going to fly when i ride my 125. and when the wind hits me..i feel like im gonna crash into the side.

my suggestion would be to either get a friend, or find someone on here who is local to you. and go out riding with them!

thats^ how i built up my riding confidence. me and my mate both bought bikes at the same time and did our cbt together

anyway, good luck. and MAN UP!(dont let nerves run you!)

any questions related to my experience? just ask!

Ciao.

p.s failed my mod 2 today.

[fatjames]

You've obviously made the decision to get yourself on 2 wheels, and you've come a long way so far. Don't let the nerves get to you! Just take your time, ignore cars that are right on your tail. It's more important to get it right.
Your already doing the right thing by practising at night and early. Try and find a quiet car park too, there you can practise signalling and turning.
Also, your speed. Go the speed you're comfy with, don't push it just because a car wants you to.
apart from that, take the advice of the previous answers.

DON'T GIVE UP.

[whitedevil]

You should have stuck to a 125, those crappy 50cc's are a bloody death trap. You'll spend all your time being ran off the road by impatient drivers and you will never gain any confidence. Get a 125 and some more training.
____________________
GPZ500 sold ~ CBR600FS-2 sold ~ ZX6R sold ~ Street Triple R

[wolfbane]

thanks for all your advice guys

[kerr]

[P.]

Do not ride in "the gutter"

Sit in the middle of the road, you own it.

The only real confidence builder is you... you tell your mind to do something, it doesn't tell you. You know yourself better than anyone else does, you know your limits.

I used to be really scared of driving or riding alone. It took a good week or so of commuting for me to start realising its dog eat dog on the road.

[blade023]

Hmm, this sounds a bit like me after I did my cbt. Though I'd had plenty of road experience on a push bike I was nervous as hell. Some good advice there from other posters and I'd agree about getting a proper geared 125. I've not ridden a scooter myself, but they sure don't look as stable.

If you're anywhere near the southwest I'd be willing to go out for some rides with you, but other than that just practice. Necessity made me practice, as I had to ride to work every day. Now I'm doing all sorts of things I'd never have thought I had the confidence to a year or so ago.

Been to Plymouth today (45 minute ride on the dual carriage way), went to wheymouth they other day (which took a couple of hours or so) and I do quite a lot of filtering but only when I feel it's safe.

Also find a car park like fatjames said, and practice there. Do some maneuvers and practice turning; mirror, signal, maneuver

Stay safe!

[Cadbury]

Like others have said, most riding schools will be happy to take you out under radio instruction to help you boost some confidence.

A lot of it may just be down to hours on the road. Just relax, and start with a small ride. Take your scooter around the block, and back home. Stick to small journeys and do them regularly. If you need to pop to the shop for some milk, take the scooter, then back home. Do this enough times and you'll eventually start to think 'Yeh, maybe I'll go down this road today' and then gradually build up your road time. Eventually, you will be looking for excuses to stay out longer and longer.
Keep at it, and you'll be eventually wonder what all the fuss was about.

Adam

[Rogerborg]

[wolfbane]

thanks again for advice and suggestions.

to respond to a couple of comments (haven't figure out how to multi-quote yet so sorry if it's not obvious who i'm responding to)

road confidence wasn't the only reason i didn't get a geared bike (although it was a factor, i still intended to get one until several people suggested i start out with a scooter to build confidence with over complicating things). the other reason was my small budget and limited chance to travel far to view bikes. it seemed i was coming across endless scooters within my budget and affordable insurance, but was having real difficulty finding an appropriate 125cc. although i shouldn't have rushed the matter, i wanted to get on the road as soon as possible after my cbt, because i knew my confidence would slip the longer i left it.

i have ridden a push bike plenty, plus i've ridden a lot of horses for long hours on the road. i think it's being in the flow of traffic that scares me, plus the additional speed.

i've read and understand the highway code, but i must admit i still worry what other drivers are doing or meant to be doing, i guess that can only come with time though.

one thing i do make sure of is to travel in the centre of the road and try to 'own' it, but i do realise i need to pick up my speed a bit more if i expect drivers to stop getting irritated. this is another reason i'm going on small journeys at quiet periods, so i can build up my speed in my own time, there's always some impatient bugger who comes along though.

a carpark is definately something that would make me feel better, because i could go through all the things i went through on my cbt for as long as i want. the area i'm in is sadly lacking in carparks though, but i am on the hunt for one i can take over for a good few hours.

and to 'blade' i'm nowhere near you unfortunatly, but thankyou for the kind offer. hopefully i can come across someone local soon who i can go out with.

further training is something i'll definately consider if my confidence doesn't pick up soon. but i feel better for knowing my 'wussy' little trips around the block, plus going out late at night and early mornings are what i should be doing.

thanks again everyone

[TheSmiler]

[Rogerborg]

Teeny toytown wheels and less weight doesn't make them more stable.

wolfbane, it sounds like you're doing it right, it's just that the ped isn't really up to it. Honestly, I'd chop it in for a 125 if at all possible.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[TheSmiler]

[95Theses]

It's a negative reinforcement cycle

You are nervous so act in an uncertain manner and ride slowly, this causes drivers to become frustrated and act more aggressively around you, which causes you to become more nervous ......

100% chop in the 50cc moped, it's making things worse. Get back out on a 125 and act assertively, ride in the centre of the lane, clearly indicate your intentions and act like you have the right to be there and it will get much easier on you.

[blade023]

Another thing to bear in mind, is that until you get a full license and get rid of the L plates, you're pretty much a road leper. Most drivers will hate being behind you, and because of that will act stupid to get past; this can easily knock your confidence.

I consider myself pretty confident and competent on the road now, and I'm getting more of a sense of 'what it's about' but I still find myself being cut up by these idiots.

Don't let that get to you. Let them idiot about, take your time, and plan ahead. If they go to cut you up or overtake just hang back and let them rush headlong. Better that than compete or feel hassled by them.

Interestingly though, my instructor said one of the safest places to be is behind an L (a learner car that is, and safe distance obviously.) Can't remember the reason he said though, but it made sense.

[Rogerborg]

[panrider_uk]

[Andy_Pagin]

Get a 125 scooter, they're noticeably more stable than a 50cc have a decent top speed around 55 - 65mph and accelerate like a car, so you can easily keep up with the traffic, and at 30mph or so you'll have the reserve power to accelerate your way out of trouble if needed.

Few things I've learned...

The safest place to be (usually) is the front of the traffic.

The safest speed to pull away from the lights is a LOT faster that the cars behind you.

Own the road.

Don't let yourself be bullied.

Watch the tarmac and avoid lumps, pot-holes & man-holes.

Keep at least a two second gap between yourself & the car in front, lots of thinking space prevents panic.
____________________
They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer